The Union Railway Budget 2016-17

The Union Railway Budget 2016-17

Date: February 25, 2016

FM radioVaranasiPuriRailways

The Union Railway Budget 2016-17 focused on capacity creation in the rail sector, with an increased outlay of about Rs. 1.21 lakh crore, and on completion of the ongoing projects rather than announcing new ones. Extending 2015's measure, passenger fares remain the same.

Will evolve models to determine revenue potential of at least 20 stations in next 3 months

Aim to generate 10-20% of Revenues from non-tariff sources over next 5 years by monetising assets

E-catering services will be increased from 40 stations now to over 400 stations

Rs. 50 crore earmarked for innovation grants to start ups

Will lease out huge tracts of land available adjacent to our rail network to promote horticulture and tree plantation

Will evolve models to determine the revenue potential of at least 20 stations in the next three months. In all, we target to increase the advertising revenues by more than four times the current revenue.

Will partner with Gujarat, Telangana and Tamil Nadu for developing suburban systems in Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Chennai by innovative financing mechanism

Appeal to all state governments to stagger office timings to ease peak traffic load on suburban train services

Will partner with state govts for comprehensive suburban system in the technology hub of Bengaluru. Similar structures and financing mechanisms will be created for Thiruvananthapuram

Overnight double-decker “Uday” Express to be introduced on busiest routes

Coolies will now be called sahayaks, says Suresh Prabhu. Read our story here.